The veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected lower back pain with degenerative disc disease is granted, effective from January 10, 1996. The claim for an increased rating prior to that date remains denied.
The deciding factor: The October 1999 VA spine examination report showed minimal degenerative changes without evidence of nerve root entrapment and chronic lumbosacral muscle spasm with occasional exacerbation, warranting a 40 percent evaluation effective from January 10, 1996.
- Claimed conditions
- lower back pain with degenerative disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- August 23, 2000
- Citation
- 0022332
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0022332.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The veteran's lower back pain with degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 40 percent disabling effective January 10, 2001. Prior to that date, the disability was rated at 20 percent.
- Granted
The veteran's lower back pain with degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 40 percent disabling effective January 10, 2001. Prior to that date, the disability was rated at 20 percent.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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